River float device for safely supporting users

ABSTRACT

A float device includes a peripheral cover having an opening for receiving users, and having a peripheral chamber for receiving a peripheral air bladder. The peripheral air bladder may be received within the peripheral cover and thus may be protected by the peripheral cover, such that the air bladder will not be easily damaged by the other objects. The cover includes one or more handles for carrying purposes, and one or more clips or bands for coupling to the other float devices. One or more pouches or cup holders may be disposed on the cover for receiving various objects.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a float device, and moreparticularly to a river float device for safely supporting users.

[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0004] For years, tubing has been enjoyed using automotive inner tubesand various derivative tubes, but no one has addressed passenger comfortand security heretofore.

[0005] The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate theafore-described disadvantages of the conventional river float devices.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] The primary objective of the present invention is to provide ariver float device for comfortably and safely supporting the users.

[0007] The other objective of the present invention is to provide ariver float device having a bladder safely received in an outer cover.

[0008] In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provideda float device comprising a peripheral cover including an opening formedtherein for receiving users, and including a peripheral chamber formedtherein, and a peripheral air bladder received in the peripheral chamberof the peripheral cover, and protected by the peripheral cover, suchthat the air bladder will not be easily damaged by the other objects.

[0009] The peripheral cover includes at least one handle attachedthereto for carrying the float device, and/or includes at least one clipattached thereto for coupling purposes, and/or includes at least onefastener band attached thereto for coupling purposes.

[0010] The air bladder includes a valve provided therein, the coverincludes an orifice formed therein for receiving the valve of the airbladder. The cover includes a flap provided thereon for shielding thevalve and the orifice of the cover.

[0011] One or more pouches, and/or one or more cup holders may furtherbe provided and disposed on the cover for receiving objects.

[0012] The cover includes a rear portion having at least one bagdisposed thereon, and a bladder received in the at least one bag, forforming a backrest for the float device.

[0013] The cover includes an inner peripheral slit formed therein forengaging and disengaging the air bladder from the cover, and a zipperattached to the cover for enclosing the peripheral slit of the cover.

[0014] The cover includes a bottom portion having a strap attachedthereto, and having at least one passage formed between the strap andthe cover, for receiving the body of the users.

[0015] Further objectives and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent from a careful reading of a detailed descriptionprovided hereinbelow, with appropriate reference to accompanyingdrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016]FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a river float device inaccordance with the present invention;

[0017]FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the river float device;

[0018]FIG. 3 is a partial exploded view of the river float device; and

[0019]FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating the operation or thecoupling of two river float devices.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0020] Referring to the drawings, and initially to FIGS. 1-3, a riverfloat device in accordance with the present invention comprises aperipheral or a ring-shaped cover 10 including an opening 11 formed inthe middle portion thereof for receiving the users or the passengerstherein.

[0021] The cover 10 includes a peripheral or a ring-shaped chamber 12formed therein for receiving a ring-shaped or peripheral air bladder 14therein which includes a valve 15 for inflating or deflating the airbladder 14.

[0022] The cover 10 includes an orifice 16 formed therein for aligningwith the valve 15 of the air bladder 14, and for allowing the airbladder 14 to be inflated or deflated with the valve 15 via the orifice16 of the cover 10, without removing the air bladder 14 from the cover10. A flap 17 may be provided on the cover 10 for covering or shieldingthe valve 15 of the air bladder 14.

[0023] The cover 10 includes an inner peripheral slit 18 formed thereinfor engaging or disengaging the air bladder 14 from the cover 10, and afastener member, such as a zipper 19 attached thereto for enclosing theperipheral slit 18 of the cover 10, and for stably retaining the airbladder 14 within the cover 10.

[0024] A strap 20 may further be provided and attached to the bottomportion of the cover 10 and disposed below the middle portion of theopening 11 of the cover 10, for supporting the users. One or morepassages 21 are preferably formed or provided between the strap 20 andthe cover 10.

[0025] The cover 10 may be made of woven or non-woven cloth materials,or of double stitched polyester materials, or the other syntheticmaterials, for protecting the air bladder 14, and for preventing the airbladder 14 from being damaged by the other objects.

[0026] The cover 10 preferably includes one or more handles 22 attachedto the front and/or the rear portions thereof, and one or more furtherhand grips 23 provided on the upper portion thereof, for easily carryingor moving the float device.

[0027] The cover 10 may further include one or more clips 24 and one ormore fastener (hook and loop) bands 25 attached to the outer peripheralportion thereof, for coupling to the fasteners bands 25 or clips 24 ofthe cover 10 of the other float devices (FIG. 4), and for allowing twoor more float devices to be coupled together.

[0028] One or more pouches 30, 31, and/or one or more cup or drinkholders 33, may further be provided and attached on the cover 10, withsuch as the fastener bands, such as the hook and loop fastener bands 25,for receiving or supporting snack, beverage, and/or cups or bottles, orCD players, or bladder repair kit, or one or more cable therein.

[0029] The river float device may further include one or more bags 40,41 disposed on the rear portion of the cover 10, for forming thebackrest of the float device, and each having a space 42 formed orprovided therein for receiving a bladder 43 therein.

[0030] The bags 40, 41 each includes a slit 44 formed therein, such asformed in the rear portion thereof for engaging or disengaging thebladders 43 from the bags 40, 41 respectively, and a fastener member,such as a zipper 45 attached thereto for enclosing the slits 44 of thebags 40, 41, and for stably retaining the bladders 43 within the bags40, 41 respectively.

[0031] It is preferable that the river float device includes a recessedfront 70 provided on the front and upper portion of the cover 10, forallowing the users or the passengers to easily get into and out of theopening 11 of the cover 10.

[0032] In operation, the users or the passengers may get into theopening 11 of the cover 10, and supported by the strap 20 for comfort,and may rest with the backrest 40, 41, and may enjoy snacks, beverages,a CD player, and a drink or the like easily. In addition, two or morefloat devices may be coupled together with the clips 24 or the bands 25.

[0033] Accordingly, the river float device in accordance with thepresent invention may be provided to comfortably and safely support theusers, and may have an air bladder safely received in the outer cover.

[0034] Although this invention has been described with a certain degreeof particularity, it is to be understood that the present disclosure hasbeen made by way of example only and that numerous changes in thedetailed construction and the combination and arrangement of parts maybe resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention as hereinafter claimed.

I claim:
 1. A float device comprising: a peripheral cover including anopening formed therein for receiving users, and including a peripheralchamber formed therein, and a peripheral air bladder received in saidperipheral chamber of said peripheral cover, and protected by saidperipheral cover.
 2. The float device according to claim 1, wherein saidperipheral cover, includes at last one handle attached thereto forcarrying said float device.
 3. The float device according to claim 1,wherein said peripheral cover includes at least one clip attachedthereto for coupling purposes.
 4. The float device according to claim 1,wherein said peripheral cover includes at least one fastener bandattached thereto for coupling purposes.
 5. The float device according toclaim 1, wherein said air bladder includes a valve provided therein,said cover includes an orifice formed therein for receiving said valveof said air bladder.
 6. The float device according to claim 5, whereinsaid cover includes a flap provided thereon for shielding said valve andsaid orifice of said cover.
 7. The float device according to claim 1further comprising at least one pouch disposed on said cover forreceiving objects.
 8. The float device according to claim 1 furthercomprising a cup holder disposed on said cover.
 9. The float deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein said cover includes a rear portion havingat least one bag disposed thereon, and a second bladder received in saidat least one bag.
 10. The float device according to claim 1, whereinsaid cover includes an inner peripheral slit formed therein for engagingand disengaging said air bladder from said cover, and a zipper attachedto said cover for enclosing said peripheral slit of said cover.
 11. Thefloat device according to claim 1, wherein said cover includes a bottomportion having a strap attached thereto, and having at least one passageformed between said strap and said cover.